Ecological Corridor Proposal

• What is proposed? • Why do we want to do it? • How would it be implemented? • What would be the benefits? • Why should I be involved? Waipā District Plan already provides for a corridor.

The proposed route is the Mangapiko stream (headwaters at Maungatautari) which enters the Waipā River at Pirongia village. From there the Ngaparierua stream links to Mt Pirongia. Why do we want to do it?

• Successful large scale restoration projects at Maungatautari and Pirongia with native species set to spread out across the landscape • We need action to keep them safe once they leave the maunga. • We know our waterways need to be improved. • highly degraded habitat • vulnerable to pest plants and fish • elevated temperature and • poor water quality. • Mangapiko Stream is the ideal link between the two maunga Other Reasons

• Capitalising on the good work already done by the Lower Mangapiko Streamcare Group. • Iwi connections to the awa will be transformed – cultural benefits • Huge potential for Maori business development and employment – economic benefits • Both MEIT and PRS use community collaboration extensively so able to engage networks and stakeholders – social benefits Wouldn’t it be amazing to see these in the Corridor? Kōkako Korimako/Bellbird Hihi/ Tīeke/Saddleback Pōpokotea/ Pītoitoi/ Robin Kākā Titipounamu/Rifleman Miromiro/ Kārearea/NZ Falcon Pūweto/Spotless crake But how likely is it? Long tailed bats Kōkako video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Y6djbURgw

“Being able to see these kōkako up close fills me with more joy than I can put into words” Can we expect to see Kōkako in the Corridor?

Yes! 1. Maungatautari Kōkako are increasing rapidly and are estimated to run out of room (reach capacity) within 10 years 2. Young birds will seek territories outside the sanctuary 3. Other examples of Kōkako moving beyond protected areas: i. Zealandia in Wellington ii. Tiritiri Matangi Island – 9km iii. Duncan (Auckland) AWOL for 2 years, found 32 kms from Ark in the Park 4. They need pests down to > 5% to breed successfully Can we expect to see Hihi in the Corridor?

Yes! Hihi with transmitters were tracked outside Maungatautari’s fence for several hundred metres. Zealandia experience of Hihi spreading outside the fence, but they are extremely sensitive to pests such as rats. They need supplementary feeding, lots of berries, and have been seen feeding on red hot pokers Can we expect to see Tīeke in the Corridor?

Yes! Tīeke have bred successfully outside Zealandia, in Wellington’s town belt They will also be very vulnerable to pests

Photo credit: Duncan Wright. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:GNU_Free_ Documentation_License,_version_1.2 Did you know these are already in the Corridor? Kōkako Korimako/Bellbird Hihi/Stitchbird Tīeke/Saddleback Pōpokotea/Whitehead Photo credit: Sid Mosdell. Pītoitoi/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Kākā Titipounamu/Rifleman Miromiro/Tomtit Kārearea/NZ Falcon Pūweto/Spotless crake Photo credit: Frankzed. Derivative work: Osado Photo credit: Py1jtp. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- Long tailed bats https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0/deed.en sa/3.0/deed.en How it would be done: Creating the Corridor • Taking stock before we start • Community Engagement • Education • Stakeholder collaboration • Fencing and planting • Supporting species diversity • Pest control • Habitat restoration • Research – Innovation and Ideas • Cultural sites restoration and beautification • Monitoring outcomes • Cycleway? Base line monitoring

• If we don’t measure what things are like before we start, we won’t have a way of knowing what changes the corridor has made • What halo effect is already present? • How will we measure success? • Will 5 minute bird counts be sufficient? • Which parts of the corridor ecosystems should we monitor? Collaboration makes it possible and exciting!

Local hapu groups Schools Corporates • Fencing and Planting

• Key message – start out basic, four species, keep it manageable to minimise losses • Learn from others • Add more interesting species later once initial planting established • Incentives for covenants to protect native bush stands and wetland restoration • E.g. Waipā District Council has Environmental Benefit Lots (extra land titles) for protecting and restoring wetlands and bush especially within the identified corridor Supporting species diversity - birds

• Planting for food sources e.g. leaves, fruit and seeds • Natives and exotics – your choice • Planting for habitat, cover, nesting eg cavities for Hihi • Planting for habitat for other food sources, e.g. invertebrates • Nesting box designs available for Kākā and Ruru

• Supporting species diversity - bats

• Bats like to follow streams as they forage the insects in waterways • Need bat roosts - Retain those mature trees with loose or cracked bark • Excellent bat box designs available https://youtu.be/ScIITzi1cDY • More monitoring needed to understand their distribution Plants to support bats Based on Hamilton experience (maternity roosts in bold)

General Roosts Maternity Roosts: • Tasmanian Blackwood • Kahikatea • Grey willow • Black locust/false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) • Pine • Oak • Birch • Eucalyptus • Casuarina • Crack Willow • London plane • Macrocarpa • Examples of bat roost trees

False Acacia Eucalyptus Kahikatea Plants to support bats

Other useful species • Cabbage tree • Miro • Ribbonwood • Matai • Kanuka • Rimu • Kauri • Pukatea • Taraire • Mamaku • Tawa • Totara Pest Control

• Approach depends on the site and the width of the corridor • Good to start with a pest detection exercise like chew cards and tracking tunnels • Pasture can act as a ‘fence’ and keep out pest predators • Good to keep grass short • Choose the method you are comfortable with • Set targets and aim to achieve them Habitat Restoration

• Corridor can be up to 250 m wide but you choose what is best for your site • ‘Stepping stones’ • May need larger clumps with higher quality habitat to act as ‘transit lounges’ • Think about what species you want to attract • Good advice available Research and Innovation

• Collective approach allows us to apply for research grants or participate in innovative programmes • Think about what knowledge gaps might be holding you back • Are there alternative land uses that could earn you more than your current approach? • Are there alternative management techniques that would reduce your costs? Cultural Dimensions

• Reconnecting mana whenua to the awa which was lost to them after the Land Wars • Cultural sites for restoration and beautification – Matakitaki Pa, Waiari Pa, Kaipaka Pa etc. Funding available for this • Traditional practices relating to the awa and its resources could be a visitor industry • Employment opportunities for kaitiaki and tikanga expertise • Maori business potential Monitoring Outcomes - Recording

• Recording and collating data is critical • Still lots of unknowns • Excellent platforms already available that are free and easy to use with a mobile phone • iNaturalist and eBird allows data to be input which is then publicly available • TrapNZ record trapping outcomes and also 5 minute bird counts – choice of public access or private to your group In Summary

• We have 10 years to prepare a corridor for iconic native species spilling out from Maungatautari and Pirongia • By working together we could create an amazing ecological treasure house that complements our local economy • Sustainable benefits could be generated from the corridor in areas not tried before • Local iwi play a key role in using cultural knowledge to enrich the proposal and attract funding Any questions?

https://youtu.be/1sZFtGAw 9dA